Jim LUEY [呂景祥] was born in Greymouth in 1922. His parents ran a local fruit and vegetable business. At aged three months he was taken back to China by an Aunt and he spent all of his childhood with his Grandparents and family in Luey village.

At eleven years old he returned to Greymouth and at eighteen years old in 1940, he was called up by the New Zealand Army to serve in WW2.

Due to his young age he was sent to train at Burnham Camp in Christchurch then transferred to Blenhiem where the Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast Regiment was based for some time.

Being the only Chinese person in that Regiment, he found it quite lonely as he did not know much English and was quite shy.

He recollects the time of Singapore’s downfall to the invading Japanese forces when troops were going to be sent to help defend the island, but it was too late and many people died.

About two years ago his son Jimmy [呂智豪] applied for his Dad’s medals which consists of the War Medal 1939-45 and the NZ War Service Medal.

Susan FOON

2015

Jim LUEY

When entering Jim LUEY’s [呂景祥] home with his daughter Susan FOON [呂淑馨], I was welcomed by a full table of breakfast of Chinese dim sum. The ‘egg cake’ was one of the favourite foods of the kids of my generation. I felt at home. Until now I still regret that I forgot to take a photograph of the food.

Jim was born in New Zealand and was sent home to live with his grandmother in China at three months old, and it was until when he was eleven years old in 1933 that he returned to New Zealand with his uncle. It was common amongst the Chinese parents during that period of time to send their children back to China for many reasons. To receive education in Chinese is one of them. In China, he studied in the renowned Pui Ching [培正] School in Canton, and this enables him to speak and write fluent Cantonese and Chinese. Jim served the army for two years in the 40s and it was until about two years ago in 2013 that he was formally acknowledged of his service to the country. After losing his wife not too long ago, he lives on his own and has dinner in Susan’s home daily. Driving to the church on every Sunday is a routine that he has kept for several decades where he meets up with his mates.